406oc.co.uk

Earlier today the car went for a service and an MOT

Whilst it was being serviced, I requested that they sort out the "knock" that I had whilst under acceleration and changing gear, and also to look at the "low" squat on the off side rear

I got the car back tonight (I picked it up after they were closed)

The car no longer squats down and having spoken to the manager on the phone (before I picked it up), he said they replaced a "stabiliser rod" and something or other "ball" (I can't remember exaclty sorry folks) at the

So thats good

But I've still got the knock

I've had the bonnet up and gived the engine a good shake, pull and pushed down on it. When I push down on the engine I get the knock, from i think near the front suspension. Now the car passed it's MOT (after apparently a couple of goes) so I assume it can't be suspension, so I'm thinking engine mounts? (which I had go on my 405)

Any thoughts please? I'm going back tomorrow to pick up my MOT certificate and spare key and am wondering if my request of "sort out the knock" hasn't really been looked at. It doesn't help that they tell me it required an "engine flush" to pass the "fast idle" emissons test on the MOT and that "we had to give it a good run to get the engine hot" A good run seems to have been 0.8 of a mile - I dropped the 406 off with 440.0 miles on the trip and she came back with 440.8 - that must have been some run!!!!

Thoughts please anyone

cheers

Mike

Hm, do you get the knocking when going over bumps? Could be as simple as anti-roll bars (something I need replacing on mine). Engine mounts is also quite plausible. Wait for mjb to come back... I know he and several other people have had theirs done.

Pull away from stationary "knock" (varies with intensity)

Change gear when accelerating hard (or a "kangaroo" change like a learner driver) "knock"

Yes occasionally it happens over humps (but less so since the work on the suspension was done)

Doesn't happen under braking (that I'm aware of at any rate)

Going back tomorrow for my MOT cert and spare key - might have a word then - will post a fill inventory of work for the experts when I get it

Cheers

Mike

My engine mount problem caused a vibrating rather than a knock. If revving/physically shaking by the hand the engine doesn't cause the knock, then i'd find a big bloke (if you're not one) and have him work the front suspension

Can you feel the knock through the gearstick/pedals/steering?

Try accelerating to a good speed, in neutral, then jab at the brake to bounce the front

mjb wrote:big bloke

aye I am at 6' 7" and 19 stone

mjb wrote:Can you feel the knock through the gearstick/pedals/steering?

Nope can't feel it

mjb wrote:Try accelerating to a good speed, in neutral, then jab at the brake to bounce the front

Nope doesn't do it then, nor if I rev the engine in neutral, it only seems to happen when the engine is under load (ie pull away from the lights) or when I'm changing gear (when I put my foot on the clutch it knocks then I change gear and release the clutch it knocks again)

I feel a trip to the mail stealer coming along

Have you checked your CV joints?

Sounds like top engine mount to me, it's easy enough to change, I fitted a second hand one (after my LX was written off I had all the good bits for the tubby! )

teamster1975 wrote:Sounds like top engine mount to me, it's easy enough to change

Errm how easy is easy on a haynes 1-5 spanner? (changing wheels and taking the dash out to change bulbs I can do) engine mount sounds as if I should know what I should be doing and requires some serious tools

For extra info: With the hand brake applied (the car is stationary, not attempting a hand brake turn or anything ), placing the car in 1st and bringing the clutch to biting point also results in the knock

Mike

Deffo sounds like engine mount to me too....

To be sure, park on level ground, stick it in gear and release the handbrake, open the bonnet, rock the car forward and backward, you'll see the engine move on the mounts, and if the mount is shot I'm sure you'll hear / see it knocking too.

michaeljclark wrote:For extra info: With the hand brake applied (the car is stationary, not attempting a hand brake turn or anything ), placing the car in 1st and bringing the clutch to biting point also results in the knock

What, you mean your handbrake actually works?

I'm note if it's possible to see it but you could try that with the bonnet open and watch the engine wobbling about*. Or do Dai's in gear thing, it sounds safer. How hard it is will depend on which mounting it is, it might be as easy as jacking the lump up on a block of wood and undoing the bolts, it might be a cow though.

*Blah blah blah did this on my first Avenger automatic, every now and then it'd make a horrible noise and eat the fanbelt, one day I stuck it in drive with the handbrake on, my foot on the footbrake and the bonnet open. Then I hoofed it and the engine rose off the broken mount, comming up about 6 inches, it was grinding off the fanbelt on the electric fan bracket.

DaiRees wrote:Deffo sounds like engine mount to me too....

To be sure, park on level ground, stick it in gear and release the handbrake, open the bonnet, rock the car forward and backward, you'll see the engine move on the mounts, and if the mount is shot I'm sure you'll hear / see it knocking too.

When I get home on Friday (staying in town at the mo) I'll do the above and see what happens!!! I assume a little movement is OK, but not shedloads?

steve_earwig wrote:What, you mean your handbrake actually works?

Yes just about , and you've reminded me that that's another job the garage forgot to do......

Thanks for all the replies chaps!

Mike

I'm always surprised how much it moves, but I think it'll be pretty apparent if one of the mounts is knackered.

DaiRees wrote:I'm always surprised how much it moves, but I think it'll be pretty apparent if one of the mounts is knackered.

Mine wasn't - even got someone to nearly run me over while i was in front of the car looking under the bonnet. I didn't get a 'knock' either, just a grinding under acceleration accompanied by juddering through the wheel+pedals. Only worked out it was the mount through replacing it

michaeljclark wrote:

teamster1975 wrote:Sounds like top engine mount to me, it's easy enough to change

Errm how easy is easy on a haynes 1-5 spanner? (changing wheels and taking the dash out to change bulbs I can do) engine mount sounds as if I should know what I should be doing and requires some serious tools
Mike

2 spanner
It's literally a case of unbolt & swap.